A forum to discuss Open Gaming - which are free games that are released with a Creative Commons licenses. Post up any Open games you find or find out more about the licenses from our resident Open Gaming expert Sanglorian from FOSsil Bank Wiki.

Lady Blackbird blends The Pool, The Shadow of Yesterday and Mouse Guard into a beguiling combination that has proven very popular. Marvelous Superheroes mixes up FATE and 4C System, two great flavours that I didn't expect to go well together.

This idea of mixing and matching has always been popular in gaming, and it's easier than ever with open games.

Which elements from completely different games would work well when combined?

My thoughts:

The abstract movement of 4C System with the combat of Dungeons and Dragons. Particularly in 4E, there's a lot of fussing over pushing, pulling and sliding people five or ten feet. Ignoring lesser movement would make combat faster and less finicky.

Pick-your-own-powers of The Simple Game System with the game system of 4C System. The powers in 4C System are already so loosely defined that it wouldn't break the game to let players straight-out choose their powers.

The aspects of FATE with the detail and precision of Dungeons and Dragons. Aspects are descriptors that can be used for your advantage, to your foe's advantage or to limit your options. For example, Berserker could be used to make you hit better, or for an enemy to dodge your erratic blows, or to stop you from pursuing diplomacy. A lot of small bonuses and penalties in D&D - like racial Craft bonuses or the penalties for being entangled - could be forgotten about if aspects were used instead. Instead of writing "+2 Appraise for stone/metal" in the corner of your sheet, you could just write "Dwarf" and use your aspect in any circumstance where being a dwarf is advantageous. Instead of looking up the penalties for Entangled, you could treat it like an aspect and let the players decide how the entangling hinders the character.

I once also played Marvel Superheroes with some friends of mine, got tired of the weird resolution chart and used fudge dice for the rest of our sessions, even keeping the ladder that Marvel Superheroes uses.